The City of Cape Town is now home to Africa's 'first' waste-to-energy conversion plant developed by New Horizons Energy.
This is according to Western Cape premier Helen Zille, speaking at the launch of a R400 million energy plant in Athlone, Cape Town, yesterday.
Zille said the New Horizons Energy plant will process more than 500 tonnes of municipal solid waste, wet trade waste and pure organic waste into environmentally considerate energy and recycled bi-products.
New Horizons Energy has been working in partnership with the Western Cape government's funded entity Green Cape, which provided the necessary technical support, she stated.
"This project aligns with the province's Energy Security Game Changer, focused on creating the energy security needed for economic growth," said Zille.
"South Africa's energy crisis requires a sustainable, diverse energy mix. We are aiming to make our vision of an energy-secure province a reality by 2020.
"It is a four-fold win: cheaper electricity prices, lower carbon emissions, more foreign investment and more industrialisation. This ultimately means more local jobs," she added.
The premier also noted the project will create an estimated 500 indirect jobs and 80 direct jobs.
"There are enormous economic advantages to renewable technologies, combined with natural gas. We will keep making progress on this crucial game changer."
Speaking at the same event was Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille, who said the city welcomes investment to boost its green economy.
De Lille reiterated Cape Town's commitment to procure energy directly with independent power producers and build its reputation as one of the green capitals of the world.
The City of Cape Town has concluded a process of organisational design and transformation in recent months that will further support the growth of the green economy, she said.
"One notable change of the organisational and development plan is the establishment of the city's first directorate of energy as of 1 January 2017.
"This new directorate will be expected to help deliver our target of achieving 20% of our energy needs from renewable energy by 2020."
De Lille added she was particularly pleased that this project would have a notable impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the city.
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